Improvement in steam-engines



PATENT QFFICE.

' OZI M. PIKE, OF CHICOPEE, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN STEAM-ENGINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 117,108, dated July 18, 1871.

and exact-description thereor, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming part of this speciiication.

My invention consists in the improvement of reversing mechanism for steam-engines, as hereinafter -fully described and subsequently pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying' drawing, Figure 1 represents a'vertical longitudinal section ofthe cylinder and valve-movement taken on the line .r x of Fig. 2, an elevation ofthe frame and iiy-wheel with the reversin g-lever being shown in the same figure. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of Fig. 1 taken on the line yy. Fig. 3 is a horizontal secof Fig. 1 taken on the line zz. Fig. 4 is a detail, showing the valve detached.

Similar letters ofreference indicate corresponding parts.

A is the engine-cylinder. Bis the valve-chest. C is the piston. D is the piston-rod. E is the frame; F the ily-wheel. G is the reversinglever. H H, Fig. 3, are the induction-ports. I is the face of the cylinder. J is the valve, with four openings, which is made to oscillate on a movable center. The movable center is on a bar, a, which slides laterally beneath the face of the cylinder, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3. The center or pivot projects through a slot, as seen in the face of the cylinder, and is moved so a-s to change the position of the valve laterally when the motion of the engine is reversed. K is the valve-rod. L is an arm attached to the middle of the valve. This arm is connected with the valve-rod by the link m and angular plate n. The valve-rod receives a reciprocating motion from an eccentric on the main shaft, and the valve, being confined on a centra-l pivot, is oscillated by that motion, its openings being carried over the ports H H for admitting and eX- hausting steam to and from the cylinder. The

steam is admitted to the valve through the valveblock O, which rests on top of the valve, covering the port-openings thereof and oscillating with it. q is a plate which covers the block O, having transverse ribs which enter transverse grooves in the top of the block, by means of which the block is guided when moved laterally, the plate q being' attached tothe valve. This block O has a central opening, p, with branch openings which terminate on the under side of each end, through which branch openings the steam is discharged to the valveopening. This block is made to slide sidewise on the valve so as to change the induction to exhaust opening, and vice versa, reversing the motion of the engine. The position of the block O is governed by the cross-plate It, which is made to slide over the top of the valve or between thevalve and the block. The plate is connected with the angular bar or bell-crank S, which latter is pivoted at the point T and connected with the reversing-lever G by the rod u. The position of the reversing-lever, by means of this mechanism, governs the position ofthe valve-block O and the direction the engine runs. c is an arc ot' a circle with two sets of notches. W is a springcatch attached to the reversing-lever, which, when moved from one set of notches to the other, reverses the motion ofthe engine. The block O is so adjusted on the valve that, While the live steam is conducted directly through it to the i11- duction-valve openings from a pipe attached to the cap ofthe valve-chest, the exhaust steam escapes through openings into the chamber X and through the exhaust-orifice y. The pistonrod or' the engine is connected with a crank-pin on the fly-wheel by the rod Z.

By my improvement a locomotive-engine may be reversed and adjusted as readily and as perfectly as when the link-motion is employed, the

mechanism being more compact and less eXpensive.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- The valve-block O, having central hole p with branches therefrom, the apertured-valve J and the sliding plate 1t arranged between them, all combined to operate in a steam-engine, as and for the purpose speciiied.

OZI M. PIKE.

Witnesses Guo. D. ROBINSON, CHARLEs O. PIKE. 

